2025-07-24
2025 “Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook” Race in Numbers
From July 16 to 19, Palanga became the speed and adrenaline capital of the Baltic States – with racing teams, their families, and the biggest motorsport fans gathering for the annual endurance race.
The one thousand km race in Palanga was held for the first time in 2000 and has taken place without interruption for twenty-six years now.
The 2025 race weekend was marked by frequent rain and intense competition on the track.
In addition to the “Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook” race, the weekend program included the “Women’s Challenge” supported by “Olybet”, “A.R.S.A. Group Drag” drag races, the “Technitis” spectator slalom, “Memel Motor Fest” car exhibition, “Pioneer 1006km dB Drag” sound competition, “Volfas Engelman ICE Non-Alco” mechanics run, and other events.
Race statistics
• This was the eighth time the international 1006 km race carried the “Aurum” name. A total of 58 drivers representing six countries—Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands—participated.
• The most popular car on the grid remained the Porsche, with seven of them starting in 2025. The race also featured three Audi cars of different specifications, two BMWs, and one each of Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Lada 2104, and—for the first time in this race history—a Volkswagen Caddy.
• The winning team drove an Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II. This marked the third victory in Palanga’s history for the Audi brand. The first Audi win came in 2004 with the RS4 model, when the “Los Patrankos – Printera” team became the first non-Porsche winners. Audi’s next victory came in 2022 with “Circle K – Lesta Racing Team” driving an Audi R8 LMS.
• The title of the oldest driver went to Swiss racer Tim Mueller, born on December 7, 1966, who represented the “RD Signs Šiauliai” team for the second consecutive year.
• The youngest competitor was Domas Raudonis, born on October 27, 2011, from the “Stokex Circle K Miles Plus” team.Winners and fastest drivers
• The 2025 race lasted 8 hours, 14 minutes, and 53.201 seconds, making it the second fastest in race history. In third place is the 2022 race, also won by Audi, which lasted 8 hours, 20 minutes, and 44.726 seconds.
• The fastest driver in both qualifying (1 min 15.603 sec) and the race itself (1 min 06.246 sec) was Karolis Jovaiša from the winning team, who received a prize from the Lithuanian Automobile Sports Federation (LASF).
• The winning “Bio-Circle & HSG by SWAG” team drove an Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II. The car was driven by Karolis Jovaiša, Egidijus Gražys, and Mantas Matukaitis. The team was managed by Mindaugas Valiūnas.
• For Mantas Matukaitis, this was his 13th start in the race and his first overall victory.
• The winners completed the 1006 km distance (373 laps), including driver changes and refueling stops, at an average speed of 121.28 km/h.
• Second place went to “RIMO & LKU by EQUPAY.CH,” managed by Aurelijus Rusteika. Their Porsche GT3 CUP was driven by Mantas Janavičius, Marius Bartkus, and Benjamin Barker.
• Final team positions shifted even after the finish – “STATETA BRO & VEESLA by AIBE,” who crossed the line in second place, were penalized for an improper driver change during the race and dropped to third. The third-place team drove a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT GT3 EVO, piloted by Dutchman Adam Christodoulou and Briton Daan Arrow. The team was managed by Sean Paul Breslin.Class Champions
• GT3 class champions: “Bio-Circle & HSG by SWAG.” Second in this class: “STATETA BRO & VEESLA by AIBE,” third: “RD Signs Šiauliai.”
• GTO class winners: “RIMO & LKU by EQUPAY.CH,” followed by “OVOKO by D2D,” and “Porsche Lietuva 91” in third.
• In GT4, “Baltic Karting Academy” claimed victory, ahead of the visiting “Porsche Latvia Racing Team.”
• TC4 class winners: “Statomenas by DMK racing” team, second place: “LIK RACING BY DELPHI,” third: “BMW KESTAUTO – TELŠIŲ STATYBA.”Spectator slalom “Technitis”
• The traditional “Technitis” slalom competition was held for the tenth time, allowing any spectator to test their driving skills.
• Among all-wheel drive cars, the fastest was Andrius Antanaitis, who also set the overall best time and received the main partner prize.
• The fastest front-wheel drive time was set by Artūras Šidlauskas, while Vytenis Butkevičius won the rear-wheel drive class.
• In the women’s category, Greta Šaduikytė was unbeatable.Photos by Vytautas Pilkauskas